EP0166506B1 - Breakaway fluid system - Google Patents
Breakaway fluid system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0166506B1 EP0166506B1 EP85302302A EP85302302A EP0166506B1 EP 0166506 B1 EP0166506 B1 EP 0166506B1 EP 85302302 A EP85302302 A EP 85302302A EP 85302302 A EP85302302 A EP 85302302A EP 0166506 B1 EP0166506 B1 EP 0166506B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- operating member
- body part
- annular
- conduit
- coupling
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims description 7
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000239290 Araneae Species 0.000 description 1
- 241001236644 Lavinia Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/22—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts
- F16L37/23—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts by means of balls
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/28—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means
- F16L37/30—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings
- F16L37/32—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
- F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses
- F16L55/1015—Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/6851—With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations
- Y10T137/6855—Vehicle
- Y10T137/6906—Aerial or water-supported [e.g., airplane or ship, etc.]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/87917—Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
- Y10T137/87925—Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
- Y10T137/87941—Each valve and/or closure operated by coupling motion
- Y10T137/87949—Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
Definitions
- Crashworthy couplings may utilise frangible components for maintaining the coupling parts connected during normal use, or reusable couplings may employ spring biased locking structures released by tension forces.
- US-A-2 705 159 discloses a self-sealing breakaway fluid coupling in accordance with the prior art portion of claim 1.
- the present invention as.,characterised in claim 1, provides a simplified structure particularly suited for use with flexible hose and providing a more reliable sealing action, particularly in its coupled state.
- the preferred latching structure as later described in detail includes radially movable detents in the form of balls, the annular operating member acting as a retainer for radially positioning the ball detents in the locked condition of the coupling.
- the spring which biases the operating member toward the detent retaining position is such that sufficient axial force imposed upon the conduit attached to the operating member displaces the operating member to permit release of the detents, and disengagement of the coupling parts.
- the coupling is fluid tight, and the direct association of the conduit with the latch operating member produces a concise assembly of low cost and dependable operation.
- the coupling 10 is illustrated as interconnecting tanks 12 and 14, such as fuel tanks of an aircraft.
- the tank 12 includes a flexible hose conduit 16 while the tank 14 includes in its system a flexible hose conduit 18.
- the coupling interconnects the flexible conduits 16 and 18, and it is the purpose of the coupling 10 to be crashworthy wherein upon impact and displacement of the tanks and tensioning of the hoses, the coupling releases with minimum fuel loss to reduce the fire hazard.
- the coupling 10 includes annular body parts 20 and 22, and each body part includes a spider 24 supporting self-sealing valve structure biased toward a closed condition by a compression spring 26.
- the valve 28 moves to the right, Fig. 1, to seal against the conical surface 30, while the valve 32 of the body part 22 seals against the conical surface 34.
- a bridging insert 36 is placed between the valves as the body parts are coupled whereby interconnection of the body parts axially positions the valves 28 and 32 in their fully opened condition as represented in Fig. I.
- the coupling latching structure includes a plurality of ball detents 37 retained within holes defined in the nose 38 of part 22, and such ball detents are well known in the coupling art.
- An annular groove 40 is defined in the nose 41 of part 20 for receiving the ball detents 37 when the coupling parts are in the fully coupled position, and the detents are maintained within the groove 40 by an annular cylindrical retaining surface 42 defined upon the latch operating member 44.
- the operating member 44 includes a groove 46 adjacent the retaining surface 42 for receiving the detents 37 to permit release thereof from the groove 40, and the member includes an outer region 48 which overlies the nose 41 of the part 20 and the part cylindrical surface 50.
- the member 44 is biased toward the left, Fig. 1, by a compression spring 54 interposed between body part 22 and member 44 and the member is sealed to the body part 22 by sealed ring 56 engaging cylindrical surface 57 by member 44.
- the inner end region of the member 44 includes an annular recess 58 and the flexible hose 18 is compressed into the recess and maintained therein by compression band 60 whereby a sealing relationship exists between the member 44 and the flexible hose 18.
- the flexible hose 16 is sealingly attached to the cylindrical recess 62 defined on the body part 20, and compression band 64 assures a sealed relationship with the body part.
- the bridging insert 36 is located between the valves 28 and 32, and the operating member 44 is manually moved. to the right to align the groove 46 with the ball detents 37.
- the nose 41 may be inserted within the outer region 48 of the member 44 until the groove 40 aligns with the ball detents, and the member 44 may be released for movement to the left by the action of spring 54 permitting the oblique surface of the groove 46 to force the detents 37 into the groove 40, and aligning the ball detents with the retaining surface 2 to maintain the body parts locked in the fully coupled operative condition of Fig. 1.
- the direct attachment of the hose 18 to the operating member 44 insures the desired releasing operation of the coupling, and minimizes the coupling structure required to achieve the desired result while maintaining a concise coupling configuration.
- the operating member is sealed with respect to both body parts, no fluid loss will occur during normal conditions, and the coupling has a clean attractive appearance free of protuberances which might hamper the releasing operation.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
Description
- Self-sealing "breakaway" fluid couplings are utilised in applications where tension forces applied to conduits will rupture the conduits, or associated fittings. Such couplings are used with agricultural equipment such as tractor-drawn farm implements having automatic releasing hitches, and breakaway couplings are often required by aircraft specifications for "crashworthy" fuel systems whereby fuel tanks are interconnected by breakaway couplings to prevent fuel loss during impact.
- Crashworthy couplings may utilise frangible components for maintaining the coupling parts connected during normal use, or reusable couplings may employ spring biased locking structures released by tension forces.
- It is an object of the invention to provide a breakaway or crashworthy fluid coupling which is dependable in operation and economical to manufacture and assemble.
- US-A-2 705 159 discloses a self-sealing breakaway fluid coupling in accordance with the prior art portion of
claim 1. As compared therewith, the present invention, as.,characterised inclaim 1, provides a simplified structure particularly suited for use with flexible hose and providing a more reliable sealing action, particularly in its coupled state. - The preferred latching structure as later described in detail includes radially movable detents in the form of balls, the annular operating member acting as a retainer for radially positioning the ball detents in the locked condition of the coupling.
- The spring which biases the operating member toward the detent retaining position is such that sufficient axial force imposed upon the conduit attached to the operating member displaces the operating member to permit release of the detents, and disengagement of the coupling parts.
- As the operating member is sealed with respect to its associated body part, the coupling is fluid tight, and the direct association of the conduit with the latch operating member produces a concise assembly of low cost and dependable operation.
- The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a coupling in accord with the invention illustrated in the interconnected locked condition, the upper half of the coupling being shown in section, and
- Fig. 2 is an elevational detail view, partially sectioned illustrating the coupling components in a released condition during the initial stage of disengagement.
- In the drawings, the
coupling 10 is illustrated as interconnectingtanks 12 and 14, such as fuel tanks of an aircraft. Thetank 12 includes aflexible hose conduit 16 while the tank 14 includes in its system aflexible hose conduit 18. The coupling interconnects theflexible conduits coupling 10 to be crashworthy wherein upon impact and displacement of the tanks and tensioning of the hoses, the coupling releases with minimum fuel loss to reduce the fire hazard. - The
coupling 10 includesannular body parts 20 and 22, and each body part includes aspider 24 supporting self-sealing valve structure biased toward a closed condition by acompression spring 26. Thevalve 28 moves to the right, Fig. 1, to seal against theconical surface 30, while thevalve 32 of thebody part 22 seals against the conical surface 34. - A
bridging insert 36 is placed between the valves as the body parts are coupled whereby interconnection of the body parts axially positions thevalves - The coupling latching structure includes a plurality of ball detents 37 retained within holes defined in the nose 38 of
part 22, and such ball detents are well known in the coupling art. - An
annular groove 40 is defined in thenose 41 of part 20 for receiving the ball detents 37 when the coupling parts are in the fully coupled position, and the detents are maintained within thegroove 40 by an annularcylindrical retaining surface 42 defined upon thelatch operating member 44. - The
operating member 44 includes a groove 46 adjacent theretaining surface 42 for receiving the detents 37 to permit release thereof from thegroove 40, and the member includes anouter region 48 which overlies thenose 41 of the part 20 and the partcylindrical surface 50. Anannular seal 52 defined in the outer region of themember 44 sealingly slidingly engages thesurface 50. - The
member 44 is biased toward the left, Fig. 1, by acompression spring 54 interposed betweenbody part 22 andmember 44 and the member is sealed to thebody part 22 by sealedring 56 engagingcylindrical surface 57 bymember 44. - The inner end region of the
member 44 includes anannular recess 58 and theflexible hose 18 is compressed into the recess and maintained therein bycompression band 60 whereby a sealing relationship exists between themember 44 and theflexible hose 18. - The
flexible hose 16 is sealingly attached to the cylindrical recess 62 defined on the body part 20, andcompression band 64 assures a sealed relationship with the body part. - To couple the body parts together the
bridging insert 36 is located between thevalves operating member 44 is manually moved. to the right to align the groove 46 with the ball detents 37. Thereupon, thenose 41 may be inserted within theouter region 48 of themember 44 until thegroove 40 aligns with the ball detents, and themember 44 may be released for movement to the left by the action ofspring 54 permitting the oblique surface of the groove 46 to force the detents 37 into thegroove 40, and aligning the ball detents with the retaining surface 2 to maintain the body parts locked in the fully coupled operative condition of Fig. 1. - In the event of a crash or impact sufficient to excessively tension the
hoses hose 18 to theoperating member 44 will pull the operating member to the right uponbody part 22 compressingspring 54, and upon the alignment of the groove 46 with the ball detents 37 the balls will be forced into the groove 46 and the body parts will uncouple. As the body parts uncouple, thesprings 26 bias thevalves seats 30 and 34, respectively, and the body parts will self-seal with minimal fuel loss. - The direct attachment of the
hose 18 to theoperating member 44 insures the desired releasing operation of the coupling, and minimizes the coupling structure required to achieve the desired result while maintaining a concise coupling configuration. As the operating member is sealed with respect to both body parts, no fluid loss will occur during normal conditions, and the coupling has a clean attractive appearance free of protuberances which might hamper the releasing operation.
Claims (2)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/624,957 US4549575A (en) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-06-27 | Breakaway fluid system |
US624957 | 1984-06-27 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0166506A2 EP0166506A2 (en) | 1986-01-02 |
EP0166506A3 EP0166506A3 (en) | 1987-03-11 |
EP0166506B1 true EP0166506B1 (en) | 1989-02-15 |
Family
ID=24504020
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85302302A Expired EP0166506B1 (en) | 1984-06-27 | 1985-04-02 | Breakaway fluid system |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4549575A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0166506B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS6124891A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1251235A (en) |
MX (1) | MX163558B (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USRE34381E (en) * | 1985-05-29 | 1993-09-21 | Axial locking device | |
GB2175949B (en) * | 1985-05-29 | 1988-05-25 | Austen Barnes | Axial locking device |
US5135029A (en) * | 1990-07-12 | 1992-08-04 | Dover Corporation | Fuel hose breakaway unit |
US6082401A (en) * | 1995-01-06 | 2000-07-04 | Colder Products Company | Low spill high flow quick coupling valve assembly |
JPH11500517A (en) * | 1995-01-06 | 1999-01-12 | コールダー・プロダクツ・カンパニー | Low outflow high flow quick connect valve assembly |
US6161578A (en) * | 1996-10-09 | 2000-12-19 | Colder Products Company | Low spill high flow quick coupling valve assembly |
GB2324419A (en) * | 1997-04-19 | 1998-10-21 | Peter John Firth | Power and signal safety disconnector |
EP1236948B1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2005-09-21 | BN OPW S.r.l. | A removable connection device for pipelines |
Family Cites Families (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1345571A (en) * | 1917-02-07 | 1920-07-06 | Isko Company | Pipe-coupling |
US2674469A (en) * | 1948-07-30 | 1954-04-06 | Clarence E Earle | Fluid coupling |
US2705159A (en) * | 1949-06-23 | 1955-03-29 | Leo D Pfau | Hose coupling |
US2666656A (en) * | 1950-12-20 | 1954-01-19 | Earl F Bruning | Breakaway coupling for fluid conduits |
US2765181A (en) * | 1952-01-14 | 1956-10-02 | Aeroquip Corp | Balanced valved self-sealing coupling |
US2860893A (en) * | 1955-05-09 | 1958-11-18 | Snap Tite Inc | Ball detent type coupling with break-away feature |
US3097865A (en) * | 1959-04-08 | 1963-07-16 | Aeroquip Corp | Quick release pipe joint |
US3140102A (en) * | 1962-11-23 | 1964-07-07 | Erwin H Gebhart | Releasable fluid line coupling |
US3317220A (en) * | 1963-04-15 | 1967-05-02 | Earl F Bruning | Releasable fluid coupling |
US3409045A (en) * | 1965-11-22 | 1968-11-05 | Mackey Wallace Reed | Coupling assembly |
GB1153320A (en) * | 1967-01-03 | 1969-05-29 | F P T Ind Ltd | Self Sealing Pipe Coupling |
US3537478A (en) * | 1968-10-29 | 1970-11-03 | Aeroquip Corp | Quick acting fluid coupling |
US3567255A (en) * | 1968-11-21 | 1971-03-02 | Aeroquip Corp | Quick acting fluid coupling |
US3549175A (en) * | 1968-12-06 | 1970-12-22 | Aeroquip Corp | Quick acting fluid coupling |
GB1294847A (en) * | 1970-08-12 | 1972-11-01 | ||
GB1482197A (en) * | 1973-10-11 | 1977-08-10 | Fpt Industries | Couplings for units such as pipes and the like |
DE2537407A1 (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1977-03-03 | Agfa Gevaert Ag | HOSE COUPLING |
EP0100205B1 (en) * | 1982-07-23 | 1987-05-20 | Charles Rabushka | Tension actuated uncoupler |
US4543994A (en) * | 1982-12-20 | 1985-10-01 | Parker-Hannifin Corporation | Rigid mount coupler |
-
1984
- 1984-06-27 US US06/624,957 patent/US4549575A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1985
- 1985-03-27 CA CA000477679A patent/CA1251235A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-02 EP EP85302302A patent/EP0166506B1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-23 MX MX205057A patent/MX163558B/en unknown
- 1985-06-25 JP JP13886585A patent/JPS6124891A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0166506A3 (en) | 1987-03-11 |
US4549575A (en) | 1985-10-29 |
MX163558B (en) | 1992-05-29 |
EP0166506A2 (en) | 1986-01-02 |
CA1251235A (en) | 1989-03-14 |
JPS6124891A (en) | 1986-02-03 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
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